01 June 2015
By the royal directive of HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Strategy to focus on corporate governance, training initiatives and developing a growing pool of UAE women directors that can serve in board-level positions

• MoU will focus on corporate government frameworks, training and development to encourage greater female participation at the board level

• The agreement will raise the number of qualified women leaders to secure board level positions

Dubai - Dubai Women Establishment today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance (HICG),aimed at creating a framework to advocate greater female representation in directorship positions in both the public and the private sectors.

The MOU was signed by HE Mona Al Marri, Chairpersonof the Dubai Women Establishment board and Director General of Dubai Media Office, and HE Hamad Buamim, Chairman of Hawkamah.

Under the Royal Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, UAE, the MoUwill focus on areas of cooperation and will include opportunities for all signatories to participate in knowledge sharing activities and research, report creation and strengthening corporate government frameworks to encourage greater female participation at the board level. The MoU also envisages future collaborations relating to research studies, creating networking opportunities on a national, regional and international level and developing a communications and awareness-raising strategy aimed at advocating greater gender diversity in the boardroom

The MoUwill also see DWE being addressed as a Strategic Partner to the HICG Women Directors Program (WDP) 2015.

Commenting on the MoU, HE Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board of Dubai Women Establishment and Director General of Dubai Media Office,said: "This MoUfalls in line with the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, advocating gender diversity across various spheres of development. The MoU also complements the "Women in Boards Initiative" which was launched by Her Highness in 2010, and served as the impetus behind the launch of the ministerial decree that stipulated the presence of women in boardrooms at the government level."By collaborating with entities that share our common goals, we believe we can influence the public and private sector to show a stronger commitment towards achieving greater gender diversity in the boardroom. This can be achieved by jointly focusing our efforts on increasing internal capacities through training, raising awareness through a clearly developed communications strategy and working to strengthen corporate governance frameworks that support female representation in the boardroom," She added.

H.E. Hamad Buamim, Chairman of HICG said: "Women have excelled in all economic activities as entrepreneurs and managers; it is time for their achievements to be reflected through their presence on corporate boards. Boardroom diversity is proven to have a positive impact on board and company performance. It is good for women directors but equally important; it has proven to be good for companies."

Furthermore, the agreement reflects DWE's ongoing efforts to encourage and facilitate the active participation of Emirati women in the economy and create corporate governance frameworks that support and encourage greater female participation in the workplace and their progression to positions of leadership. Working together with Hawkamah will help build positive perceptions on women in the boardroom, offer opportunities for mentorship among senior business women and encourage women entrepreneurs, business and political influencers to play a greater advocacy role and influence policy change that supports the rise of the percentage of women serving in board level positions.

Similarly, through this collaboration with DWE, Hawkamah aims to further align their goals towards nurturing a culture that believes in the long-term presence of women in the boardroom and works towards making it a reality in this region. The Directors Development Program will focus on reaching out to leading educational institutes, local, regional and international business organizations and assessing the impact of policy changes. Access to DWE's network of inspiring women leaders in both the public and private sectors will immeasurably strengthen the program's efforts and will positively influence women empowerment in the region.

-Ends-

About Dubai Women Establishment
The Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed in 2006 under law no. (24) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum - The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan - UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs. As a statutory body of Dubai Government and as per its founding decree, the Establishment aims to encourage and facilitate the participation of Emirati women in the workforce and society.

Mandate includes extensive research to identify and quantify status of women in the workforce of Dubai, as well as initiatives towards women's further development opportunities. Awareness and policies that are conducive to women in the workforce will be recommended to Dubai Government as solutions to enable women to play a greater role within the UAE and on global scale.

The term participation includes acknowledgment of women in arts, women in sports, women in leadership professionally in their field as well as of the societal arena such as act of philanthropic, humanitarian and politics.

For Media Enquiries please contact:
Rohini Nagu
Communications Specialist 
Tel +971 4 349 9922
Fax +971 4 349 9965
Mob +971 50 306 4814
Email Rohini.N@dubailadiesclub.com

© Press Release 2015